The Billionaire's Rescue novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Chairman

The Hartwell house stood on the lakeshore in Lake Forest, behind iron gates, and it smelled like lemon oil and old books.

Margot met us at the door in a grey sweater with her hair down.

"He's in the study," she said. "He insisted on getting dressed. The nurse is furious."

"Is he in pain?"

"Yes. He won't say so."

She squeezed my hand once, hard, and walked me down a long hall of portraits.

Torben came three steps behind us and stopped outside the study door.

"I'll wait here," he said.

"You can come in."

"Not for this."

I went in alone.

The room was warm and dim, with a fire going and books to the ceiling.

An old man sat in a leather chair by the window with a plaid blanket over his knees.

He was tall even sitting, and thin in a way that wasn't natural.

His white hair was combed straight back, and a cashmere cardigan hung off his shoulders.

A hospital bracelet showed under his cuff.

He saw me, and he started to stand.

"Please don't," I said. "You'll fall."

"I'm sixty-two years old, and I am going to stand for my daughter."

He did.

It took him a long time.

When he was upright, he put one shaking hand on the chair back and looked at me, and I saw his eyes were hazel-green.

I had been looking at those eyes in mirrors my whole life.

My chin was his too.

I had always wondered where I got that stubborn chin.

"Halley," he said. "My name is Cornelius Hartwell. I have wanted to say that to you for three years."

My throat closed up.

"I'm not here for money," I said.

"Good. I'd have been worried."

"And I need something before I sit down."

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Billionaire's Rescue from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.